Waiting game: Great Northern Football League season still alive ... for now

A decision on the Great Northern Football League season has been postponed for another month. Club presidents and league officials met behind closed doors tonight and decided to hold off on making a decision until they meet again on July 3. The season has been in hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was agreement at tonight’s meeting for a tentative start date for the season of July 25, with a possible grand final on September 27. Key conditions for the season launch would be allowing crowds to attend and bars/canteens to open. The league issued a statement tonight saying: “All Presidents committed to the consensus that they would meet again on July 3rd to formalise a final decision based on the WAFC guidelines of a Stage 5 return.” Earlier today, two presidents said their clubs were sick and tired of the waiting game and believed it would be best if the season was officially cancelled. “That’s what we will be pushing for and we’ve heard the same from others,” one said. “This (corona-virus) is the fault of nobody. “But it’s getting to people. “We’re concerned more about the mental health of people and not knowing what is or isn’t happening isn’t helping. “We are in favour of the season not proceeding. “You cannot leave players and other people in limbo about whether football will start or not. “Every day which passes without any change makes it harder. “It’s just hard to tell players to keep training, not being able to give them a start date. “Our club thinks it’s best if we forget about this year and put our energies and plans into 2021.” Even if the Government gives the “all-clear” to play, all country football leagues in WA said they would not take to the field unless crowds could attend. The Central Midlands Coastal Football League announced last week that it had pulled the pin on its season. “Regrettably, this decision was made in the interests of all clubs and the association as a result of the continuing restrictions associated with COVID-19,” the league wrote. EDITED STORY: An earlier version of this story, published before tonight’s meeting, reported that the 2020 season in the Great Northern Football League was expected to be called off.